Remembering Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, the beloved country music star who won hearts across the country and globe for her philanthropic efforts, died in Nashville Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
We’re wrapping up live coverage, but here’s where to go next if you want to learn more about Parton’s legendary life and legacy:
- Read about her rise from humble beginnings to the greatest heights of American music.
- Take a look at Parton’s iconic style, which included big heels and bigger hair.
- Read about how she united a very divided America.
- Watch the 2003 interview with Larry King where she opened up about her creative roots.
- See how Parton became an enduring LGBTQ+ icon.
- Read about how Parton’s projects and philanthropy will continue.
We will always love you, Dolly
It turns out that a very divided America is indeed able to come together and agree on one thing: a collective sense of grief, love and adoration for the late Dolly Parton.
The country superstar, actress and philanthropist died “peacefully” on Tuesday in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. The news quickly spurred reactions from people across all walks of life, bringing together everyone from drag queens to faith leaders and politicians to music fans of all genres to remember the life and legacy of a woman who touched millions with her prolific songwriting, unique charm and sweeping generosity.
Some of music’s biggest names were the first to remember Parton, many sharing their own stories that spoke to her immense impact. Country legends like Shania Twain and Reba McEntire, rock-and-rollers like Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger and contemporary pop powerhouses Miley Cyrus — who is also Parton’s goddaughter — Taylor Swift and Beyoncé all paid tribute. Even rapper Eminem was moved to share a story about how he connected with Parton.
Hollywood luminaries, including Parton’s “Steel Magnolias” and “9 to 5” costars, joined in the choir too, with Jane Fonda calling her “the voluptuous embodiment of empathy.”
Honoring Parton crossed party lines in Washington, as notable politicians from both sides of the aisle paid tribute to her in different ways. World leaders across Europe also shared their sentiments, including the British Royal Family.
The tributes didn’t stop at just people. The Empire State Building and the New Orleans skyline lit up in bright pink for Parton Tuesday night. The Muppets also honored Parton, who herself was made an honorary Muppet in 1986.
The legendary star’s career spanned over half a century, with Parton writing more than 3,000 songs throughout her life, many of which captured the American experience, like “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5.” The latter was title track from the movie of the same name, in which Parton also starred, and it became an anthem for American women and workers. Parton wrote both her hits “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” – later made famous by Whitney Houston’s cover – around the same time.
Parton was passionate about giving back to people in need, and she funneled her massive success into philanthropy, founding a library program known as The Imagination Library that has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world.
Her lucrative business efforts also came with a commitment to help those less fortunate. In 1986, she opened the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where it became the area’s largest employer, credited with creating thousands jobs and generating close to $2 billion annually.
As her impact continues to be felt, many of the tributes that poured in this week evoked Parton’s late husband Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years who died in 2025 – with many finding solace that the two have reunited once again.
Here's how Parton's projects will continue after her death
Dolly Parton may no longer be with us — but the creative projects she spearheaded during her life will continue.
Those projects include a Broadway musical about her life, set to open in New York late September, and the SongTeller Hotel in Nashville. The hotel will include Dolly’s Life Of Many Colors Museum, an exhibit that will celebrate the late singer’s life.
Other projects, like a biopic of Parton and a docuseries about her life, are also in the pipeline, according to the release.
Parton’s philanthropic projects are also set to persist: Her Imagination Library, which promotes literacy by mailing millions of books to families free-of-charge, has also said it will continue its programming.
Tennessee politician proposes "9 to 5 Day" in memory of Dolly Parton
A state senator in Dolly Parton’s home state of Tennessee announced today that he is proposing legislation to designate September 25 as “9 to 5 Day” to honor the superstar musician and Volunteer State icon.
“Dolly will go down as one of the most legendary Tennesseans of all time,” State Sen. Jessie Seal, a Republican representing the state’s 8th Senate district, near Knoxville and Parton’s birthplace, said in a press release announcing the legislation.
“She embodied the true Volunteer State spirit like no other,” Seal said. “While every day is a fitting day to honor Dolly, ‘9 to 5 Day’ will give Tennesseans an opportunity each year to set aside a little extra time to listen to one of her most iconic songs and reflect on the once-in-a-century legend.”
Parton was ambassador for the Smokies and drove East Tennessee tourism, local lodge says
More than 11 million people visited the Great Smoky Mountains last year, according to the National Park Service, and one lodge atop a popular peak is crediting Dolly Parton for putting the area on the map.
The lodge sits at the summit of Mt. LeConte, a popular part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is accessible only through hiking trails. The lodge is the only place visitors can sleep overnight in a permanent structure in the park, it says on its website, attracting adventurers from across the country.
LeConte Lodge, which has been in the park for more than 100 years, called Parton an “incredible ambassador for the Smoky Mountains and the people of Southern Appalachia.”
“Meanwhile, her endless catalogue of songs continue to fill countless music halls, echo across campgrounds, and sow special memories among hikers gathered in rustic cabins at this endearing mountaintop retreat,” the lodge said.
The National Park Service and the US Department of the Interior also honored Parton’s connection to the mountains, saying they were “part of her story” and shaped the way she saw the world.
In a tribute to her ambassadorship, NPS said Parton “never stopped sharing her love for these places, inviting generations of people to discover their beauty and find a little bit of that mountain spirit for themselves.”
How Dolly Parton connected with Latino fans
Dolly Parton also left her mark on the Latino community, as her music transcended languages.
Her iconic song “Jolene” was adapted in Spanish and given a cumbia twist by singers Chiquis Rivera and Becky G in 2020. Parton helped honor women in Latin music during a 2021 special from the Latin Recording Academy and gave a bilingual performance of “Jolene” via video alongside Chiquis.
“I loved Dolly first because my mom loved Dolly. Her music was part of my childhood, and because of that, she always felt connected to my mom in a special way. Then I grew up, became a songwriter myself, and fell in love with Dolly for my own reasons. The way she told stories through music, her honesty, her humor, her faith, her heart… and the way she was always unapologetically herself,” Chiquis said this week in an Instagram post honoring Parton along with Chiquis’ mother, who was legendary regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera.
“She was one in a billion”: Longtime friend and producer Barry Adelman remembers Parton
Barry Adelman, an executive vice president for Dick Clark Productions, which is associated with the Academy of Country Music’s awards show, remembers Dolly Parton as a star who “could do everything” and remained authentic.
“She was 1 in a billion,” Adelman told CNN’s Dana Bash. “And, you know, if she would only have been a singer, she would have been a star. An actress, a star. A songwriter, a star. She could do everything. And she remained authentic through the whole process.”
Adelman also praised Parton’s ability as a producer. “She knew exactly what was right, what was right for her. And she was amazing to work with,” he said.
“She made you feel part of her family and she could change your script and change every line of it. At the end of it, you thought you wrote the whole thing. She just she just made you feel wonderful all the time,” Adelman said.
Asked about a humorous bit at the 2023 ACM Awards, when co-host Garth Brooks introduced Parton as the GOAT — greatest of all time — and she appeared with a live goat, Adelman said it was her idea.
Adelman said the script initially didn’t have a live goat in it, “but Dolly said, ‘Well, if we’re talking about the GOAT, why don’t I come out there with a goat?’ It was her idea, and that’s what made her so amazing. She just had this instinct of what would work, especially what would work … for her.”
And when the cameras weren’t on, Parton was “very much like what you saw when the cameras were on,” Adelman said. He praised her warm and authentic demeanor.
“She was warm. She was sweet. She would grasp your hand in both of her hands. She’d look you in the eye. She talked to everybody as an individual,” Adelman said, and she “always got what she wanted and what she needed. But she never acted like a diva.”
How Dolly Parton won the hearts of queer America
Dolly Parton’s iconic 1980s films not only served up unforgettable camp and collective rebellion, they delivered a masterclass in radical acceptance — all themes that resonated with queer America.
Documentary filmmakers Gary and Larry Lane explore how her film roles cemented her legacy as an enduring LGBTQ+ icon.
This Tennessee children's hospital was named after Dolly earlier this year
Dolly Parton’s commitment to philanthropy will live on in her many endeavors, including her efforts to support health care access for children.
Earlier this year, the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital became the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. It was the result of a “unique, generational partnership with the legendary musician, philanthropist and East Tennessee native,” the hospital says, though it didn’t share how much Parton donated in its March announcement.
“Being fortunate to have grown up in the mountains of East Tennessee, I learned early on what it means to take care of one another,” Parton said in the statement at the time. “Every child deserves world-class care, wrapped in kindness and love.”
Matt Schaefer, its president and CEO, said Parton’s support would ensure “every child who walks through our doors receives the treatment they deserve.”
The hospital, since its founding in 1937, has had an “open-door” policy that states that no child will be denied care based on “their parents’ ability to pay their child’s medical bill,” its website says.
After her death on Tuesday, the hospital said it is “profoundly honored to have been touched by Dolly’s extraordinary compassion, bright light and generosity,” according to a post on social media.
Georgia governor orders flags to be lowered in honor of Parton
Flags on state buildings in Georgia will fly at half-staff for the next week in honor of Dolly Parton, Gov. Brian Kemp announced.
Kemp, in the executive order, also pointed out that Parton and her longtime husband Carl Dean were married in Georgia in 1966.
"I will always love her": Miley Cyrus remembers godmother Dolly Parton
Miley Cyrus, who was Dolly Parton’s goddaughter, is remembering their special bond today, saying in a post on Instagram that the loss “is beyond what feels right to share.”
“Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” she said.
She said her “heart breaks” for the world and Parton’s family and friends as tributes pour in.
“We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”
“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” Cyrus said.
Parton's legacy is kept alive at Dollywood, theme park president says
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton reflected on Dolly Parton’s legacy and impact on the theme park in a video posted to the park’s social media accounts today.
“I want to speak directly to you to make sure you realize she’s alive and well here,” he said. “I know a lot of people are concerned that things are going to change without Dolly being present here, and I want to assure you that it’s not.”
Dollywood, which has been named after Parton for 40 years, remained open today, just “as Dolly wanted,” the park said in a release yesterday.
In an interview with CNN affiliate WBIR, Naughton called working with Parton “one of the biggest honors” of his career and said the park is working on additions that will honor Parton’s legacy.
Naughton urged fans of Parton to carry on the lessons of compassion and ambition that ran throughout her career and philanthropic work.
“Don’t be afraid to love big. Don’t be afraid to dream big,” he said in the social media video. “Don’t be afraid to care more about others, because that’s exactly what we’re going to do, because that’s exactly what she’d want us to do. The show must go on.”
Sevier County courthouse bells ring in honor of Parton
Bells rang out in Dolly Parton’s hometown on Wednesday in honor of the late singer-songwriter.
The bells began to chime at noon at Tennessee’s Sevier County courthouse and went on for five minutes as onlookers took a moment of silence.
“It’s a solemn day in Sevier County,” Sevierville Mayor Bryan McCarter said at the ceremony. “Dolly was so many things in life to so many people. She was a singer, songwriter, entertainer, an incredibly successful businesswoman, a friend. But here in Sevier County she was one of us.”
Schools in the county also paused and took moment of silence beginning at noon for Parton.
Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry will host formal tribute to Dolly Parton Saturday
The Grand Ole Opry will dedicate its Saturday night show to Dolly Parton, honoring the life, legacy, and contributions to country music made by the iconic Opry member of nearly 60 years, the venue announced.
Slated to perform are a number of artists, including Carly Pearce, who began her career at Parton’s Dollywood theme park and who Parton surprised with an invitation to become an official Opry member in 2021.
Following Parton’s passing Tuesday, the venue placed her name front and center on its outdoor marquee. The marquee is set to honor Parton through Saturday evening, the Opry said.
New Orleans skyline lights up pink in honor of Dolly Parton
Some of New Orleans’ best-known landmarks glowed pink last night in honor of Dolly Parton.
In footage provided by CNN affiliate WWL, the Superdome, Crescent City Connection, National WWII Museum and Hibernia Tower can all be seen illuminated in pink.
Cities across the country also honored Parton. Nashville International Airport, several Boston bridges and New York City’s Empire State Building were also illuminated in pink in honor of the American icon.
The Muppets remember honorary member Dolly Parton
Almost as universally loved as Dolly Parton, the Muppets posted a tribute to the star saying “there will never be another quite like” her.
Parton was made an honorary Muppet in 1986, and over the years, she performed with the puppet ensemble on several occasions, including a 1987 duet with Kermit covering Sly Stone’s “Everyday People.” She also collaborated with Miss Piggy on the Cole Porter classic “Friendship” and The Coasters’ “I’m a Hog for You Baby.”
Miss Piggy famously sparred with Parton over diva status and country music authenticity — but Miss Piggy and Parton stayed close. In 1988, Parton won the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Program,” and Miss Piggy appeared in a video during the ceremony sending her congratulations.
And that wasn’t her only puppet lookalike. Parton also inspired a Sesame Street character named Polly Darton, complete with big blonde hair, who used Parton’s classic “9 to 5” as a counting lessons changing the lyrics to “1 to 5”.
Take a look at Dolly Parton's most iconic albums
Over the course of her legendary career, Dolly Parton released 49 albums. Here’s a look at some of her most iconic:
People are revisiting Dolly Parton's love story with Carl Dean and how he supported her
We more than understand now why “Jolene” was attracted to Carl Dean.
Dolly Parton’s husband of almost 60 years was a big part of how she was able to become such a megastar, partly because he stayed out of the limelight, which allowed her to shine even brighter.
“Carl has never been in the limelight and all, never wanted to be in it,” she said during a 2023 appearance on “What Would Dolly Do? Radio.” “He don’t like it.”
The pair met on her first day in Nashville in 1964, when the then-18-year-old Parton had moved there to pursue her career.
She told Interview magazine the story in 1984.
“I graduated on a Friday night, went to Nashville on a Saturday morning with dirty clothes, and I went to a laundromat looking for anything but love,” she said at the time. “I had just left two boyfriends back home.”
According to “Entertainment Tonight,” upon spotting her outside of the Wishy Washy Laundromat, Dean — who was two years older than Parton — said his first thought was “I’m gonna marry that girl,” which he did two years later in Ringgold, Georgia.
“My second thought was, ‘Lord she’s good lookin,’” he said in 2016 upon the occasion of them renewing their vows for their 50th anniversary. “And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
Their decades together helped form the foundation that allowed Parton to become a country music legend, entrepreneur and philanthropist. But he chose to do so very privately, rarely even being seen in public, let alone be interviewed.
She told Barbara Walters in a 1982 interview that their marriage allowed her the “freedom” she needed to be a creative while also giving her a happy partnership, adding that “I’m there for him, he’s there for me.”
“It’s somebody to plan, somebody to grow old with, somebody to have fun with,” she said. “We have a lot in common. We’re good friends.”
That type of relationship is being hailed now on social media, with Dean being labeled as ahead of his time and an ideal partner for his seeming lack of ego and loving support.
Her official site notes him as proceeding her in death last year and states that he “notably didn’t care for the spotlight of Dolly’s career, but his love, support and consistency built an unshakable foundation for her to come home to when she was off the road.”
More than a few are taking comfort in knowing that they are together again, for eternity.
Heartfelt performance given at Grand Ole Opry in memory of Dolly
On Tuesday night singer Rhonda Vincent paid tribute to Dolly Parton, someone who she had shared the stage with many times.
“This is for Dolly,” Vincent said before performing a heartfelt rendition of Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors” at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
During the performance, a screen projected a photo of Parton with the message “Remembering Dolly Parton 1946-2026” in the background behind the performers.
Vincent shared a statement earlier on Tuesday about Parton’s death: “It would take a lifetime to express the love and gratitude I have for @DollyParton. She was a true friend and mentor, even making a trip from Nashville to Greentop, Missouri when I had a life threatening illness. She said, ‘I had to make sure you were okay myself.’ Her work ethic was unmatched, and although she was a world icon, she was as down to earth as your next door neighbor. I will ALWAYS love you, Dolly!!”
“How can this be possible?" Nashville mayor says of Parton’s death, remembering her impact
Dolly Parton has left “a permanent impact on the city and the fabric of what we do,” Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell told CNN’s Sara Sidner.
O’Connell was caught off guard by the news of Parton’s passing yesterday, he said. “How can this be real today?” the mayor recalled thinking, having just worked with the legendary musician and her team on the planned opening of her SongTeller hotel in the city.
The mayor’s second thought went to the “enormity of the impact” Parton’s life had in his city, he said. “Because here, in Music City, sort of her adopted home, she is beloved,” O’Connell told CNN. “She has a huge, larger-than-life impact, and so it’s just like having to take a breath, almost.”
“She was everything you would imagine. She was sweet, funny, just welcoming, showcased Southern hospitality, just a delightful person,” O’Connell said.
Parton appeared at her truck stop’s grand opening in June
Dolly Parton made one of her last public appearances on June 24, at the grand opening for her “Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop.”
“I’m sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers. I had to throw my squirrely little self in there,” Parton said at the opening in video captured by CNN affiliate WTVF, likely nodding to a certain other travel center company. “We’re not trying to compete with anybody. We don’t think we’ll have to. We think we’re going to have everything that you want or need.”
The travel stop is located in Cornersville, Tennessee, off I-65’s Exit 22.
It features a rotation of acoustic musical performances, a lounge area for truckers, a coffee shop called “A Cup of Ambition,” ice cream and a full service restaurant.
